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amplifier with volume control

I began my journey with an active preamp then switched to a placette passive which was more transparent but sucked the life out of my system (but I was using longer interconnects to monoblocks).  I have one source (a computer with a usb dac) and am now running direct to my amplifier which sounds much better than my previous 2 configurations. I am using a digital volume control and my thought is to change to an amp with a built in volume control - like an audion - or have a tech install one on my amplifier. My question is how is an amp with a volume control different - if at all- from a passive (simple pot in a box) connected with short interconnects to an amplifier?       thank you
majorc

Showing 3 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The best TVC sounds threadbare.
The Music First Reference tranny uses about a mile of copper wire!
And that’s the problem with TVC’s the mile of thin wire, they ring are coloured to the max, nowhere near transparent, even less transparent than active preamps.
A good passive kills them, and direct source to amp is even better, if they aren’t "bit stripping"

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
ieales865 posts08-13-2021 2:12am
The demands the input of an amplifier puts on a source is just like what a speaker puts on an amp
utter nonsense. This just flat out wrong. There is next to zero current required in the input of an amplifier. There is no dynamic impedance or flyback current. Like most of what MC says, PURE HOGWASH!

you will find out that a well designed pre amp will actually outperform a passive circuit with any type of dynamic music, something is lost going all passive
utter nonsense.
If the impedance and design are correct, a passive has less coloration than almost any active circuit. Some devices may not be capable of driving a passive, but that is not a fault of the passive.



+1
All the above is utterly correct, been saying it for years. And any audio technician will say excatly the same, so long as they DON"T have a vested interest in active preamps.

Cheers George


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I began my journey with an active preamp then switched to a placette passive which was more transparent but sucked the life out of my system (but I was using longer interconnects to monoblocks).

That was your problem long interconnects with a passives high output impedance, if you use only 1-2mt quality low capacitance interconnects you would have had a far better outcome.


computer with a usb dac) and am now running direct to my amplifier which sounds much better
Now going direct you have a low output impedance from the dac and it can drive those long interconnects.

My question is how is an amp with a volume control different - if at all- from a passive (simple pot in a box) connected with short interconnects to an amplifier?
It’s not, if both have the same make and value of potentiometer (pot) inside them.

Cheers George
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